Cong seeks irrigation rent waiver for Samba farmers

Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) vice-president Hari Singh has demanded that farmers of the border area of Samba district should be exempted from paying irrigation rent.

Hari Singh was speaking in a meeting of Congress workers of Vijaypur and Purmandal blocks on Monday. Hari Singh said farmers of the border area of Ramgarh sector in Samba district are being charged heavily in the form of irrigation rent at the rate of Rs 471 per hectare from Tawi canal and Rs 72 from Ravi canal, besides they are paying electricity rent for their pump sets for the irrigation purpose.

Owing to border disturbances, these farmers are unable to cultivate their fields properly and have suffered heavy loss to their crops and they are not in a position to pay irrigation rent, the Congress leader said.

He demanded that the irrigation rent for the current year should be waived in the larger interest of farmers of the border area.

He also demanded 5 marla plots to the people of the border area of Samba district in safer zone. The Congress leader said the government has already promised to provide them land at safer place in the district and the promise should be fulfilled on priority.

Hari Singh also demanded special recruitment drive in army, police and paramilitary forces for educated unemployed youth of the border area of Samba district, as they have no other means of livelihood.

Jammu: Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) vice-president Hari Singh has demanded that farmers of the border area of Samba district should be exempted from paying irrigation rent.

Hari Singh was speaking in a meeting of Congress workers of Vijaypur and Purmandal blocks on Monday. Hari Singh said farmers of the border area of Ramgarh sector in Samba district are being charged heavily in the form of irrigation rent at the rate of Rs 471 per hectare from Tawi canal and Rs 72 from Ravi canal, besides they are paying electricity rent for their pump sets for the irrigation purpose.

Owing to border disturbances, these farmers are unable to cultivate their fields properly and have suffered heavy loss to their crops and they are not in a position to pay irrigation rent, the Congress leader said.

He demanded that the irrigation rent for the current year should be waived in the larger interest of farmers of the border area.

He also demanded 5 marla plots to the people of the border area of Samba district in safer zone. The Congress leader said the government has already promised to provide them land at safer place in the district and the promise should be fulfilled on priority.

Hari Singh also demanded special recruitment drive in army, police and paramilitary forces for educated unemployed youth of the border area of Samba district, as they have no other means of livelihood.